4th Grade Science Standard 4: Fossils in Utah

USOE Sci-ber Text -- Fossils

Objective 1 | Objective 2

Objective 1: Describe Utah fossils and explain how they were formed.

Describe three ways fossils are formed in sedimentary rock

• How Fossils are Formed (http://www.surweb.org/search/media_shows.asp?msid=21394). This slide show covers how Utah fossils have been formed.
• "Getting into the Fossil Record" (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/fossil/5to8/Intro.html). This interactive module covers several areas from the core including: What a fossil is; Ways fossils are formed; Why fossils are found in sedimentary rock. It includes a 7-question quiz for each section. These modules do not have a lot of reading; however, the reading is on a higher level. Students may have to do this activity with a group or with the entire class. Some of the modules are a little easier than others.

Research locations where fossils are found in Utah and construct a simple fossil map.

• Compare the number of fossils found in each state at Enchanted Learning's Zoom Dinosaurs. (Select North American Fossils from this site.) Students tally the number of fossils found in each state and then create a color code representing specific number ranges. Students can then identify any patterns of fossils throughout the United States.
• Identify the types of fossils found in Utah with the PowerPoint Show, "Utah Fossils Map." - This map shows the locations of fossils throughout Utah. This could be used as an introduction to Utah fossils. (http://www.carbon.k12.ut.us/che/Utah%20fossils%20show.pps). Students could use the information from this site to categorize Utah fossil types and create their own Utah map. This slide show comes from a site from Mrs. Jeweks hotlinks. The site includes several Power Point slide shows on Utah Fossils (http://www.carbon.k12.ut.us/che/jewkes.htm).
  • Class Activity. Have class work in groups. Give each group a Utah Map with counties labeled. Distribute fossil cards to various groups. Groups use the fossil cards to guess the locations of Utah fossil. Students label the map with their guesses. Groups can share their map and discuss their reasons for marking their map. Share the presentation with the class and have them label their map correctly. Discuss differences.
    Map (with fossil locations highlighted) | Map (without fossil locations) | Fossil Card 1 | Fossil Card 2 | Fossil Card 3 | Fossil Card 4 | Fossil Card 5
• Visit these additional sites that highlight fossils found in Utah:
  • Images from BYU's Earth Science Museum. This site provides images of fossils found in Utah. (http://nauvoo.byu.edu/museums/esm/thumbnails.html)
  • Dinosaur Tracks slide show (http://www.surweb.org/search/media_shows.asp?msid=21393). This slide show reviews several dinosaur track fossils found in Utah.

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Objective 2: Explain how fossils can be used to make inferences about past life, climate, geology, and environments.

Explain why fossils are usually found in sedimentary rock.

• Have students go on a fossil fact finding mission at Enchanted Learning's Zoom Dinosaurs. (http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/First.shtml). This site is divided into several sections. Assign students to read a section in order to uncover three facts about fossils to share with the class. Students can use this Fact Finding sheet to record their facts. Have students create a fan book with their facts. Once the fact cards are completed and cut out, the class can categorize the facts and divide the pages into sections for the book.

Based on the fossils found in various locations, infer how Utah environments have changed over time.

• Identify 10 things fossils can tell us while watching the "What Can A Bone Tell Us" slide show. Students can complete this task card as they read the information. (http://www.surweb.org/search/media_shows.asp?msid=36050)
• Read Stories from the Fossil Record (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/stories/index.html). This interactive module includes four areas that help students understand what fossils can tell us about past life. The areas include: Biodiversity, a section that provides some theories for extinction; Geologic Time Events, a section that provides information on geological time period;. Paleoecology, a section that provides information on how animals interact with each other. Past Lives, a section that discusses how fossils can teach us about how animals lived in the past. These modules do not have a lot of reading; however, the reading is on a higher level. Students may have to do this activity with a group or with the entire class. Some of the modules are a little easier than others. Each module includes a review at the end.
• Learn about what fossils can tell us about life and the environment at "Fossils of Plants and Marine Life" slide show (http://www.surweb.org/search/media_shows.asp?msid=21382).
• What can we tell about the past by looking at the fossils? Review what we can tell about Utah's history from the fossils found throughout the state by watching this Fossil Inferences slide show (http://www.carbon.k12.ut.us/che/Fossil%20Inference%20show.pps). This slide show comes from a site from Mrs. Jeweks hotlinks. The site includes several Power Point slide shows on Utah Fossils (http://www.carbon.k12.ut.us/che/jewkes.htm).

Research information on two scientific explanations for the extinction of dinosaurs and other prehistoric organisms.

• Help students learn about dinosaur extinction theories with this Power Point slide show. Dinosaur Extintion Theories (http://www.carbon.k12.ut.us/che/trial.pps) Read and complete this organizer (Inspiration version | PDF version) as students gather information.
• Students can gather additional information at Dinosaur Extinction from Enchanted Learning (http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/extinction/Asteroid.html). This site provides easy-to-read explanations.
• Discovering Dinosaurs from Britannica. This is a lesson plan/activity guide that provides information on extinction theories. The lesson plan is suggested for grades 6-8 but may be adapted for 4th graders (http://www.search.eb.com/dinosaurs/dinosaurs/study/act03.htm).

Formulate questions that can be answered using information gathered on the extinction of dinosaurs.

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